ATHENS, Ga. –Meghan Boenig, head coach of the University of Georgia equestrian team has announced the promotion of Mary Meneely to Associate Head Coach.

“Coach Meneely is such an incredible source of passion, talent and dedication,” Boenig said of Meneely. “It is a true pleasure to work with her in pushing our athletes to strive for excellence in the classroom, arena and life. I, as well as our student-athletes, am better because of her relentless effort to be better, stride further and reach new heights. It is with the greatest appreciation that we congratulate her on being promoted to Associate Head Coach.”

Meneely has been a member of the Georgia equestrian coaching staff since April 2010 and was named an Assistant Coach for Georgia’s Western Riding corps in June of 2010.

“I am so excited and honored to be named the Associate Head Coach of the University of Georgia equestrian team,” Meneely said. “I look forward to continuing the success of the program and continuing to prove why Georgia is the premier equestrian program in the nation. I am also looking forward to supporting Coach Boenig to the best of my abilities and learning from her. I am incredibly blessed and honored to be given this opportunity and look forward to the future success of the Georgia equestrian program.”

In her first season with the Bulldogs, Meneely helped guide the Western squad to a fourth-place finish at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships, including a second-round upset win over TCU. The fourth-place finish helped secure Georgia’s fifth national title.

The following season, her first full season with the Bulldogs, Meneely helped the Western team to a third-place finish at Nationals, which helped propel Georgia to a Reserve Championship.

In 2011-12, the Western squad again brought home a third-place finish at Nationals that helped the Bulldogs to its second-straight Reserve Title.

Since the 2011-12 season, the Meneely has led the Western team to an impressive 30-13-13 record, including a 16-8-4 mark in Horsemanship and a 14-5-9 record in Reining.

This season, Meneely has guided the Western riders to a 6-2-3 record in Horsemanship and a 5-3-3 record in Reining.

Since 1992, Meneely has co-owned and operated Meneely Show Horses, Ltd., of Conyers, Ga., along with her husband Rob. They have produced over 450 World and National Championships in both Western and Hunt Seat. During that time Meneely has handled all aspects of the business, including recruitment and training of show riders, selection and training of horses, sales and marketing of the business, farm management, and custom design of show clothes.

Meneely already has experience as an instructor on the collegiate level. For three years (1996-99) she developed and taught Equestrian courses at Georgia Perimeter College in Conyers.

A native of Seattle, Meneely started her own equine coaching and training business while attending the University of Washington. She completed her undergraduate studies from Belford University in 2009 and is currently pursuing her MBA with emphasis in Human Resources and is on track to completing the degree this year.